Airplane-stopping device



2 Shoots-Sheet 1 BY ATTORNEY July 29, 1930. aMAcFAnDEN AIRPLA NE STOPPING DEVIGE Filed Feb. 23. 1929 July 29, 1930,

B. MACFADDEN 1,771,578

AIRPLANE STOPPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheat 2 INVENTOR BERNARR MAC FADDEN ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v IBERNARR MACFADDEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIRPLANE-STOIPING DEVICE Application filed February 28, 1929. Serial No. 341,983.

This invention relates to flying machines Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the curand airplanes and to apparatus or devices for tain lowered to operative position; stopping them, and more particularly to Fig. 3 is a fragmental plane, on a larger means for stopping airplanes on the landing scale, showing the operating mechanism for field. p I the curtain and doors; 5

One object of the invention is to provide Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the dooran apparatus or device of this kind which operating means and associated parts; will quickly bring the airplane to rest on the Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View, field after it has landed. on a larger scale, and partly in elevation Another object of the invention is to proshowing the cavity in the wing for the curg vide an apparatus or device of this kind which tain, the curtain and door being removed, the is suitable for short fields and which will persection being taken substantially on the line mit economy in the area of fields. 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the Another object of the invention is to proarrow; and

vide an apparatus or device of this kind with Fig. 6 is a fragmental vertical sectional e5 safe operating means which will operate view, on a larger scale, and taken on the line when desired but not operate by accident. 5-5 of Fig. 1, the curtainand door being in Other objects of the invention will appear place. H as the description proceeds; and while herein My improved airplane stopping device is details of the invention are described and shown in connection with a monoplane air- 7 claimed, these are shown merely as examples, plane comprising a fuselage 10, having stud and the invention is in no way limited to these, beams 11 and 12 extending thereacross to since an entirely different construction may which are secured front and rear wing beams be used, or many and various changes may be 13 and 14 on which the wings 15 are built; made without departing from. the scope of though it is noted that the invention is in no 75 the invention as claimed in the broader claims. way limited to monoplanes or to this type of The inventive features for the accomplishairplane, as it may be applied to any type ment of these and other objects are shown whatever. p herein in connection with an improved air- A false beam 18 (Fig. 5) in the wing to the plane stopping device applied to an airplane rear of and spaced from the wing beam 15 0 having its wings each provided with a down connected thereto by vertlcal webs 19 and 20. wardly opening longitudinal cavity. The intermediate webs 20 being strengthened by stopping device includes rollers disposed axstrips 21 and cut away to form large downially in saidcavities, each carrying a retardwardly open ng recesses 22 formlng a downing curtain having a weighted free edge. wardly opening cavity in the wing extending 5 Means are provided for rotating the rollers, to near the ends of the wings. Obviously, and to cause the rollers to rotate together. A however, any desired construction of wlng door for the lower part of each cavity is pro may be used. vided with means for operating the door, and Shaft 24 and 25 formlng curtainrollers 26 means for locking the door closed. (Fig. 6) disposed axlally of sald ca-vitles are 90' As the machine lands, the doors are opened, journaled in webs 19 and 27 (Fig. 1 at the permitting the curtain to unwind and engage ends of the cavity. The shaft 24 (F1g. 3) is the air, to resist further travel of the plane, here shown shorter than the other and termithus to bring it quickly to restafter which the nates at the wall of the cock pit 28. The curtain may be rewound. 1 other shaft 25 is the longer and extends across 65 In the accompanying drawing, showing by the cock pit and is connected to the short way of example,one of many possible embodishaft by a gimbal joint 29 to cause them to roments of the invention, tate together. If theshafts are axially alined Fig. 1 isa plan showing an airplane with this jolnt is not necessary. my device applied thereto; A retarding curtain 35 (Fig. 6) secured on 1. 0

Y the roller 26 of each of said sha fts carries an iron bar 36 or other heavy weight secured to the free edge of the curtain, whereby the curtain may be caused to unwind by the weight k of the bar.

vided on the larger shaft, at one side of the cock pit. This ratchet is engaged by a pawl 42 pivoted on a base plate 43 secured at one side of the cock pit, to prevent the curtain from unwinding.

To prevent accidental displacement of the pawl from the ratchet, I provide a plate member 44 mounted on the top plate. '1 his member, as shown, may be either a fiat spring or a pivoted latch. The spring will permit operation of the pawl while engaged by the plate member. If the plate member is un yielding it must be pivotally mounted on the base plate and'swing out of the way when the pawl is operated or disengaged.

In order to raise the pawl from the ratchet against the operation of the spring, I provide a pivoted cam 44 pivoted on the base plate 43 and provided with a handle 44.

A hinge rod 45 (Fig. 6) passing through bearing plates 46 on said webs 20 just forward of the lower part of said recesses 22 extends across the cock pit and carries strap hinges 47 secured fast thereto, to which hinges are secured todoors 48', one for each of said cavities, whereby when the rod is rotated rearwardly a quarter turn, the door will open downward permitting the curtain to unroll, if the pawl has been released.

A door-operating lever 50 (Figs. 3 and 4) fast on said hinge rod and provided with a transverse intermediate bore carries a bolt 51 slidable in said bore, and when the lever is in closed-door position, said bolt engages inone of a series of holes 52 in the plate, to pre* vent accidental opening of the door. A boltlever 55 has its intermediate part pivoted on the side of the lever 50 and its inner end pivoted to the bolt 51. A spring 56 compressed between the outer ends of the levers 50 and 55 serves for yieldably holding the bolt in the hob, and permits the withdrawal of the bolt to release the lever 50 to open the door.

Both the door and the pawl and the ratchet are not necessary, but may'both be supplied as extra precaution against accidental unwinding.

The operation is simple and obvious from the foregoing, but may be briefly summarized as follows The curtains are kept normally wound up and stored in their cavities, the door being locked c1osed, or the pawlgengaged with the ratchetor both, depending upon which are provided.

As the airplane is about to land the pawl is removed from the ratchet, as explained above. Then as, or just after, or even just before, the plane lands, the bolt 51 is withdrawn by operation of the lever 55, and the lever 50 lowered, thus opening the doors 48; whereupon the curtains, influenced by the weights 36, unroll and tend to hang in positions approximately indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 2.

In these positions, the curtains engage the air and offer such resistance that the airplane is quickly brought to rest in much, less space than heretofore.

Before the next trip the curtain is rewound by means of the crank 38 and sprockets; the

'50 locked indoor-closing position by means of the bolt 51.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, an airplane having its wings each provided with a downwardly opening longitudinal cavity; rollers disposed axlally in said cavities; a retarding curtain secured on each roller; means for rotating the rollers; a weight secured to the free edge of each curtain; a door for the lower part of each cavity; and means for locking the door closed.

2. In combination, an airplane having its wlngs each provided With a downwardly opening longitudinal cavity; rollers disposed axlally in said cavities; a retarding curtain secured on each roller; a weight secured to the free edge of each curtain; means to cause the rollers to rotate together; means for rotating the rollers; a door-for the lower part of each cavity; means for operating the door; and means for locking the door closed.

3. In combination, an airplane its wings having each a downwardly opening longitudlnal cavity near the rear edge extending to near the ends of the Wings; shafts forming rbllers disposed axially in said cavities and I having each a downwardly opening longitudinal cavity"nearthe edge extending to near the ends of the wings; shafts forming rollers disposed axially in said cavities and journaled at the ends of the cavity and extending into the fuselage of the airplane; a

retarding curtain secured on each roller; a weight secured to the free edge of the curtain; means connecting said shafts to cause them torotate together; means for rotating the rods; a ratchet fast on one shaft; a pawl engaging said ratchet to hold the shaft against unwinding movement; and means for locking the pawl on the ratchet.

5. In combination, an airplane its wings having each a downwardly opening longitudinal cavity near the rear edge extending to near the ends of the wings; shafts formin rollers disposed axially in said cavities and journaled at the ends of the cavity and extending into the fuselage of the airplane; a retarding curtain secured on each roller; a weight secured to the free edge of the curtain; means connecting said shafts to cause them to rotate together; means for rotating therods; a ratchet fast on one shaft; a pawl engaging said ratchet to hold the shaft against unwinding movement; a hinge rod mounted forward of the lower part of said cavities; a door for each cavity secured fast on said rod; an operating lever fast on said rod in the fuselage; and means for locking the lever in osition to hold the 'door closed.

6. In com ination, a flying machine; a roller transverse to the path of the machine; a curtain on said rollerhaving on its free edge a weight sufliciently heavy to cause the curtain to unwind; and releasable means to hold the curtain from unwinding.

7. In combinatioma flying machine having a downwardly opening cavity; a roller in said cavity; a retarding curtain secured to said rollerv and having a weight attached to its free edge; said .roller being freely rotatable in unwinding direction, the weight being sufficiently heavy "to. cause the curtain to unwind; and releasable means for holding the curtain from unwinding." a

8. In combination, an airplane having downwardly opening cavities in its wings; rollers in said cavities; a retarding curtain secured on each roller; weights secured'to the free edges of the curtains, the rollers being freely rotatable in curtain-unwinding direc tion, the weights being suificiently heavy to cause the curtains to unwind; and a door for i the lower part of the cavity.

9. In combination, a flying machine having an elongated downwardly openin cavity transverse to the path of the mac ine; a roller disposed longitudinally in the cavity; a curtain wound around said roller and having a free edge; means for unwinding the roller; a door for said cavity; and a weight on the free edge of the, curtain and adapted to hold the curtain lower than said roller when the curtain is unfurled.

10. In combination a flying machine; a roller transverse to the path of the machine; a curtain on said roller having a weight on its free edge; and releasable means to hold the curtain from unwinding; said weight being adapted to hold the curtain lower than the roller when the curtain is unwound.

11. An airplane having a downwardly opening cavity transverse to the path of the airplane; a roller in said cavity longitudinally thereof; a curtain around said roller having a weight on its free edge; and a door for the cavit forming, when closed, a continuation of the lower surface of the wing and a part of the lifting surface thereof.

12. In combination, an airplane wing having a downwardly opening cavity transverse to its path; a roller in said cavity; a retarding curtain secured to said roller; means engaging the free edge of the curtain for causing the curtain to unwind and descend; and a door for said cavity completely closing the cavity and forming a continuation of the lifting surface of the wing.

13. In combination, an airplane having downwardly opening cavities in its wings; a retarding curtain secured in each cavity; weights secured to the free ed es of the curtains; the weights being su ciently heavy to cause the curtains to unfurl and descend; and a door for the lower part of the cavity.

14. In combination, an airplane wing; a curtain having one free edge secured under the wing transverse to the path of the wing;

means for furling the curtain; and a weight w 

